New Enterprises

By Donna and Abs

Now that the raiding had become almost nonexistent in Sadaam, Kenny was becoming more and more bored. Since he was not sexually mature himself, the primary occupation of the other residents of Sadaam was out of the question for him, even though he was 800 years old! And so, he was delegated to being the errand boy. After several months of do this, do that, fetch this, fetch that; Kenny was good and sick of it! So, one night, he took off, shaking the dust of Sadaam's streets off his feet forever. Why did he need them? He had survived well enough on his own for a long time.  

Taking a horse, he rode to the ford.  There he let the beast go before approaching the Mountie on duty.  Fortunately, the man did not know who he was, and because he was not immortal, he did not feel his buzz.  Needless to say, the man was shocked at a child being on the world, and asked him if he wanted transport to Esperanza or Edan. 

He played the little lost boy to the hilt, saying he had no idea where he should go. The Mountie, thinking that the families of Edan would be better for him, suggested that. Besides, the coach was due through that day and would be heading there!  

"I can ride," said Kenny.  "Just give me a horse and I'll find it myself!" 

"It's too dangerous for a kid like you!" the Mountie insisted. "I'm not going to let you go off on your own. There are some very bad types around here!"  

Kenny grumbled and thought to himself that the idiot didn't know *how* dangerous he himself was, then wondered what the sap would do if he knew where he'd been living for the past few months!  Oh, what he'd seen!  Unfortunately, he could not participate. 

But he had a role to play, and so, with a huge sigh, he gave in. On the good side, the Mountie fed him. Which was good. In Sadaam, he had had to almost fight for the scraps of food the *older* immortals allowed him. So, by the time the coach arrived, he was full and sleepy.  

He was put on the coach, which was, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint) empty for the trip.  "You'll watch after the lad, won't you?" Con Madigan was asked. 

"Of course," the Texan said, shaking his head in amazement. The women of town would have a field day with this one. If this world lacked anything, it was children!  

And so the coach was sent off with its "precious" cargo.  But all the while, said cargo was hiding a terrible secret. 

A sword that was sharp enough to take a head. 

***

 The journey had been uneventful. The stage had only stopped one time, and that was to pick up a very agitated Chinese man and a beautiful young Japanese girl who were walking down the road together. So, when the stage let out its passengers, it caused a great deal of excitement. Sean Burns had been lounging nearby, and fearing the boy had been traumatized by his sudden change of scenery on top of his *first death* volunteered to take him under his wing.  

Kenny agreed, feeling the man's buzz, and immediately planned on a way to take his head after getting his trust.  He was anxious - it had been far too long since he'd taken a head, and what other joy did he get - but he was hopeful that he could wait long enough.  The guy was already half way there. 

Getting out of the stage, and going with Burns, he took one more look at the Oriental beauty.  God damn his pre-pubescent body! 

Lupe came out of the hotel, immediately wanting to mother the *poor boy*. The only one in town who might have shed some light onto his true identity was unfortunately at Sam Grey's, looking over some of the horses in training there. Duncan MacLeod had found out the hard way that Kenny was not what he appeared to be.  

But of course, he had not shared this information with anyone.  Burns normally would have had him looked over by the doctors, but this child was immortal.  So after making sure he had plenty to eat (this place was even better than the Ford Station, and the one serving it was definitely worth a tumble if he had only been older), Kenny was brought back to Burns' house to settle in. 

While Kenny was scoping out his future victim and planning how to make it look like it was someone else who did it, the other new residents of town were also being helped out. The man, Hop Sing, spoke broken English at best, and was not happy when told that he would not be able to return to the Ponderosa. "What Hop Sing do here then?" he demanded.  

As he spoke, the Japanese girl hung politely back, smiling in gentle amusement at her friend. Con Madigan got down the suitcase she had been carrying with her and gave it to her. "Nice to have you in town, Miss...."  

"Kasumi," she said, smiling back.  

At another table, a pair of keen green eyes was observing both the girl's figure, and the older man with her.  Coming over, Colonel Luis Montoya introduced himself, bowed politely, and addressed Hop Sing.  "You would not be skilled at the art of laundry would you?  This young woman is a delectable cook, but she does not put as much store into personal appearance as I should wish." 

Hop Sing bowed politely. "I do laundry good. Clean house good. Cook good too! You have job for Hop Sing?"  

"I only wish I had a place of my own to employ you," said Montoya.  "Perhaps I should move out of this place and finally live in style.  With your help and assistance!”

That was when Paul Racine, who was quietly admiring the female newcomer himself, spoke up. "There is a building on the edge of town all set up for a laundry already!  At least one side of it. In the middle of it are living quarters, and on the other is what could be a small cafe. I was thinking about opening a business there myself!"  

Montoya scowled.  If he could get this man to work for him, and the girl as well, he might be able to live in the manner he was accustomed - not just in a hotel! 

"I could help him set up the business," Kasumi suggested in a small voice. "My father ran a tailor shop, and my mother's family owned several small eating establishments on Okinawa." In contrast to Hop Sing's broken English, hers was perfect. She had obviously been well educated.  

Montoya cursed silently again.  His dream was getting farther from him by the minute!  But he had not gotten far, losing his temper, so he bowed to her.  "Then if you open such a business," he said reverently, "I shall be your best customer!" 

She smiled at him, bowing slightly. "I would be honored to have you as such, Colonelsan" Her manners were distinctly Japanese, but her dress modern. She was wearing jeans and a short-sleeved pullover top that left a few inches of her midriff exposed. She had been on a trip back from the school she was attending in Tokyo when she had found herself transported from the hustle and bustle of the world’s most crowded cities to that of a wooden wilderness.  

Hop Sing had found her, wandering lost and alone in the woods, and had immediately taken her under his wing.   "Who own laundry?" Hop Sing asked. When he was told that it was his if he wanted to make a go of it, he jumped at the chance. Having his own business was much better than working for someone else!

Much worse than the man not working for him, and getting him out of that God-forsaken hotel, Montoya did not like the way other men were looking at the girl.  He would have to tread lightly to win her.  For more than clean laundry, he had been wondering if there would ever be a woman worthy of him in Edan!